How to get 0% long term capital gains?

Asked by: Willard Haag  |  Last update: August 15, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (40 votes)

Who qualifies for 0% capital gains in 2025. Starting in 2025, single filers can qualify for the 0% long-term capital gains rate with taxable income of $48,350 or less, and married couples filing jointly are eligible with $96,700 or less. However, taxable income is significantly lower than your gross earnings.

How to pay no taxes on long-term capital gains?

9 Ways to Avoid Capital Gains Taxes on Stocks
  1. Invest for the Long Term. ...
  2. Contribute to Your Retirement Accounts. ...
  3. Pick Your Cost Basis. ...
  4. Lower Your Tax Bracket. ...
  5. Harvest Losses to Offset Gains. ...
  6. Move to a Tax-Friendly State. ...
  7. Donate Stock to Charity. ...
  8. Invest in an Opportunity Zone.

How do I get zero long-term capital gains tax?

In case of long-term capital gains from sale of land, building or both, section 54EC provides exemption if the taxpayer invests the proceeds of the sale in the bonds of Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), Power Finance Corporation (PFC) or of Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) within six months from the ...

What states have 0% capital gains?

There are only eight states that do not tax capital gains:
  • Alaska.
  • Florida.
  • Nevada.
  • New Hampshire*
  • South Dakota.
  • Tennessee.
  • Texas.
  • Wyoming.

How do I get exemption from long term capital gains?

Exemption under Section 54F

Section 54F exempts you from paying LTCG tax on the sale of long-term capital assets other than a house if you utilise the sale proceeds to buy/construct a new house. The new house should be purchased either one year before or within two years of the sale of the long-term asset.

0% Long Term Capital Gains Tax--Is it Legit?

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How do you qualify for 0% long-term capital gains?

Get top local stories in Southern California delivered to you every morning. > Sign up for NBC LA's News Headlines newsletter. Starting in 2025, single filers qualify for the 0% long-term capital gains rate with taxable income of $48,350 or less, while married couples filing jointly are eligible with $96,700 or less.

Is there still a lifetime capital gains exemption?

Qualifying Criteria

The capital gains exclusion applies to your principal residence, and while you may only have one of those at a time, you may have more than one during your lifetime. There is no longer a one-time exemption—that was the old rule, but it changed in 1997.

Who pays 0% capital gains tax?

Capital gains tax rates

A capital gains rate of 0% applies if your taxable income is less than or equal to: $47,025 for single and married filing separately; $94,050 for married filing jointly and qualifying surviving spouse; and. $63,000 for head of household.

What is the 6 year rule for capital gains tax?

Here's how it works: Taxpayers can claim a full capital gains tax exemption for their principal place of residence (PPOR). They also can claim this exemption for up to six years if they move out of their PPOR and then rent it out. There are some qualifying conditions for leaving your principal place of residence.

What is the income limit to avoid capital gains tax?

For the 2025 tax year, individual filers won't pay any capital gains tax if their total taxable income is $48,350 or less. The rate jumps to 15 percent on capital gains, if their income is $48,351 to $533,400. Above that income level the rate climbs to 20 percent.

What is a simple trick for avoiding capital gains tax?

An easy and impactful way to reduce your capital gains taxes is to use tax-advantaged accounts. Retirement accounts such as 401(k) plans, and individual retirement accounts offer tax-deferred investment. You don't pay income or capital gains taxes on assets while they remain in the account.

Are there any loopholes for capital gains tax?

A few options to legally avoid paying capital gains tax on investment property include buying your property with a retirement account, converting the property from an investment property to a primary residence, utilizing tax harvesting, and using Section 1031 of the IRS code for deferring taxes.

Can I sell my house and buy another without paying capital gains?

You can avoid capital gains tax when you sell your primary residence by buying another house and using the 121 home sale exclusion. In addition, the 1031 like-kind exchange allows investors to defer taxes when they reinvest the proceeds from the sale of an investment property into another investment property.

Can I sell stock and reinvest without paying capital gains?

What if I reinvest the proceeds? Buying additional stock shares with the proceeds from a stock sale will not eliminate or reduce capital gains taxes. However, if you reinvest the gain into a QOF (Qualified Opportunity Fund), you can defer the payment of capital gains taxes while you are invested in an eligible fund.

How do I avoid long-term capital gains tax on real estate?

Yes. Home sales can be tax-free as long as the condition of the sale meets certain criteria: The seller must have owned the home and used it as their principal residence for two out of the last five years (up to the date of closing). The two years do not have to be consecutive to qualify.

Is there zero capital gains tax in 2024?

After a strong year for the stock market, tax-gain harvesting could help rebalance your portfolio and save on future taxes. For 2024, you may qualify for the 0% long-term capital gains rate with a taxable income of up to $47,025 if you're a single filer or up to $94,050 for married couples filing jointly.

At what age do you stop paying capital gains tax?

The real estate scenario applies to all adults, and it's worth reiterating that there are no age-related exemptions from capital gains tax.

What is the exemption for long-term capital gains?

Long-term capital gains (LTCG) refer to the profit made from selling shares or other assets held for over 12 months. In Budget 2024, the LTCG tax rate saw an increase from 10% to 12.5%, while the exemption limit was raised to Rs. 1.25 lakh from the previous Rs. 1 lakh.

How much can you write off for long-term capital gains?

The IRS gives you a tax break for holding investments for at least a year by reducing the taxes on the profits you make from their sale. You can also deduct or carry over to the next tax year up to $3,000 in capital losses, then $3,000 again the following year, and so on, until you've claimed all the losses.

How to make capital gains tax free?

You may qualify for the 0% long-term capital gains rate for 2022 with taxable income of $41,675 or less for single filers and $83,350 or under for married couples filing jointly. You may be in the 0% tax bracket, even with six figures of joint income with a spouse, depending on taxable income.

What states have 0 capital gains tax?

While the federal long-term capital gains tax applies to all states, there are eight states that do not assess a long-term capital gains tax. They are Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming.

Do long-term capital gains count as income?

Long-term capital gains may push you into a higher capital gains tax bracket but will not affect your ordinary income tax bracket because such gains are not treated as ordinary income. Assets sold within a year are short-term gains and they are considered ordinary income.

Is there a one-time forgiveness on capital gains tax?

If it's your primary residence

You can sell your primary residence and avoid paying capital gains taxes on the first $250,000 of your profits if your tax-filing status is single, and up to $500,000 if married and filing jointly. The exemption is only available once every two years.

How do seniors avoid capital gains tax?

As of 2022, for a single filer aged 65 or older, if their total income is less than $40,000 (or $80,000 for couples), they don't owe any long-term capital gains tax.

What is the 90% rule for capital gains exemption?

The 90% test: At the time of sale the private company must be using a minimum of 90% of its assets in carrying on an active business in Canada.